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When you are preparing for your college exams, good nutrition often slides way down on the priority list. It is easy to get into the habit of glugging coffee and gobbling take-out pizza because you don’t want to waste time on food preparation. This habit is common, but good nutrition should be part of your study plan — it’s going to help you ace those tests. The better the fuel your brain gets, the better you’ll study. It’s a…well…no-brainer.

Healthy nutrition is a mix of right proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Cardio workouts are the other necessary element for a healthy body. You can’t forget nutrition or physical activity during your final exam preparation. The stress of college exams can do major harm to our bodies. Be aware of your body and health — testing can help you identify any health issues you’re concerned you may have. Continue reading →

We all know about the infamous freshman fifteen. If you’re a senior in high school, it seems like a distant and unlikely horror story. If you’re coming home from your first year at school, though, you know that it is real.

The freshman fifteen doesn’t hit everyone, but it is a pretty common phenomenon. Whether you gained 5 pounds or 15, we’ll give you some tips for shedding that extra weight. To learn how to fight it, let’s first look at how the weight creeps in.

How the weight adds up

1. Sleep Pattern Changes – Life at college has a completely different schedule. There are usually major shifts in the way you sleep. You may go to bed late, sleep late and take naps throughout the day. The new environment can affect the quality of your sleep, too. Your body reacts to these changes by altering your appetite-related hormones. You may eat more and more without feeling satisfied.

2. Alcohol – Calories like to hide in alcoholic drinks. You probably don’t realize the amount of calories in that bottled mixed drink, but you definitely aren’t worried about the calories after four bottles. Drinking can cause your body to decrease fat burning hormones and increase in fat storage hormones.

3. Stress – Your first year at college is full of changes. You have to adjust to new friends, new surroundings, a different learning environment and more work. Your body isn’t oblivious to these drastic changes. It responds by releasing stress hormones that bring weight gain.

4. Poor Diet – One of those major changes is the shift from home-cooked meals to the cafeteria and fast food. Most college students struggle to get solid nutrition. They’re facing scrambled schedules with little time or resources to prepare healthy food and limited money to spend. This often brings on unhealthy food choices.

How to shed the extra weight

Make exercise a habit

You could exercise all summer and lose weight. But, if you don’t make exercise a habit when you get back to school in the fall, you may see the weight return. So, take this summer as a chance to find exercise that will fit in your life. If you hate running, don’t force it. If you have fun playing tennis, set up regular tennis dates with your family and friends. Think about where you’ll play when you return to school and who will play with you.

Start a solid sleep routine

No, we don’t want you to sleep every night from 3 am to 1pm. But, we do want you to be consistent. This summer, try to form a predictable sleep routine. Maybe you’ll start having time set aside before bed to relax with a cup of tea or yoga. We know this isn’t going to happen every night when you’re at school, but we do know that forming the habit now will make your rest better.

As you focus on your health this summer, you may have more time to check any health concerns you may have noticed during the busy school year. ARCpoint Labs offers wellness screenings to help you learn about your health and start developing habits for the rest of your time at school.

Summer has arrived! You’ve got three months of glorious sunshine and no classes ahead of you. Well, most of you don’t have to worry about studying. For the rest, summer classes are approaching fast. For the most lucky group, you’re packing your bags and preparing to set off to a foreign country.

Studying abroad is one of the greatest opportunities you’ll have in college. If you’re setting off on a study abroad adventure this summer, you’ll want to be completely ready.

Before you step into the unknown, make sure you are physically and mentally ready. Your health probably isn’t your first concern while you plan your trip, but it should be on your mind.

Think about these health related issues before you leave so you won’t have to panic if a medical issue arises while you’re abroad:

1. Wellness

You may not have convenient access to doctors or pharmacies in your destination. Visit your physician for a general checkup before you leave. You never know how the traveling conditions will affect your physical and mental health, so it’s a good idea to discuss possible challenges with your doctor.

If you take prescription medicine, you’ll need to talk to your doctor about the chances of getting that medicine while you’re abroad or if you are even allowed to take that medicine with you. You may need to bring extra doses of over the counter medicine, since other countries don’t always have the same medicines available.

2. Immunizations

Your study abroad program will give you information about immunizations and health records that you need. The CDC traveler’s site has a complete and accurate list so you know you are fully prepared to travel. You’re responsible for having current immunizations. If you’re not sure, a blood test is a convenient way to check on your immunizations. Some countries require HIV tests before travel.

3. Health Insurance

We hope you don’t break a leg or come down with the flu while you’re studying abroad, but we know it happens occasionally! You need special overseas medical insurance to protect yourself from health issues. Your program or school should provide you information about affordable plans that you’ll get before you leave and discontinue when you’re back.

Get Ready for the Time of Your Life!

You have so many details to plan before you hop on the plane, but your health is important. Focusing on your health will help you have an awesome experience- when you don’t have to worry about health and safety issues, you can focus on learning and exploring your new environment!

Welcome to Lawrence, KU students! If you’re a freshman, welcome to this great city we call home! If you’re a returning undergraduate or graduate – we’re glad to have you back! We hope everyone had a safe summer and are ready for another year of classes at KU!

Welcome back students!

To welcome you back, we wanted to give you a handy guide for resources around town when it comes to your health.

No insurance? No problem.

If you’re a student at KU and are needing several lab tests run, we can do that for you, even if you don’t have insurance. We realize not all students can afford health insurance, yet sometimes you still need medical tests. Our Lawrence location offers students the chance to get a wellness test or drug test without any insurance required. Plus, everything is confidential. Nobody has to see you come in, and you get quick results in no time.

We’re excited to be moving into Lawrence, KS, land of the Jayhawks! Part of what attracted us to this great little town just a few miles west of Kansas City was the great student population coming from the University of Kansas. We cannot wait to meet students and help them stay healthy and well. We’re here to provide answers for some of the most pressing health concerns college students face.

Speaking of issues college students face, we couldn’t help but notice this story hitting major headlines last week about a university in Pennsylvania selling the Plan B pill through vending machines. It reminded us of the issues students at college face, and some of their biggest health concerns.

Worried you could be pregnant? Get tested to find out for sure.

What is the Plan B Pill and the Hype About?

The Plan B pill is designed to prevent contraception after intercourse. This pill has been widely used by individuals who either neglected to practice safe sex or those not confident in their pregnancy prevention steps. This pill has also been used by victims of sexual assault. The Associated Press reports that, “Taking Plan B within 72 hours of rape, condom failure or just forgetting regular contraception can cut the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. It works best if taken within 24 hours.” There is much controversy surrounding the pill, and the way that it’s used and being sold. And while we aren’t here to offer commentary on this pill, we are here to serve as a resource for any KU student who might be in a crisis pregnancy situation.

KU Students and Unplanned Pregnancy

This story makes us remember that cases of unplanned pregnancies are not uncommon on college campuses, even KU. Students seeking help in Lawrence have options. If you’re concerned you might be pregnant and not sure what to do, here are some local Lawrence, KS resources for you:

[ARCpoint Labs of Lawrence] Need a pregnancy test but don’t want the whole world to know? Slip in to our walk-in laboratory in Lawrence, KS for a completely confidential pregnancy test. You won’t have to worry about being seen as you walk into a “free clinic” to find out results. We provide reliable pregnancy testing services and quick results. Our pregnancy services can even tell you how far along you are in pregnancy if you indeed test positive.

ARCpoint Labs can also perform paternity testing if you’re unsure about the baby’s father.